Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-03

President of the United States. You have sole control and authority to say who shall vote at municipal elections. You can say thes women of this State shall vote in all town, city or borough elections, and this is what we ask The petitioners have kept themselves within the pale of reasonableness and the law. The question is whether the State of Con- necticut does think 1t proper to grant these privileges or whether they think it best or not. When you will consider the matter in a legal form you will find it benefit to the public at large. The best interests of the State will be served by giving the women the right to vote. There is no question but des- potic judgment exists and in our republican government there has got to be enough vir- tue to counteract the vice. Totally unfit persons are permitted to vote, drunkards and paupers, and why not womena Woman wherever she has had occasion to use power has used it nobly and we'll It is an awful thing to let this flood of intoxicating liquors be sold throughout the State and then make the chief victims, the women, suffer for it without the power to protect. The experi- ment should be tried and if it proves failure repeal it the next session. 1t fig worth while to try this experiment. Already in New York they have the right to vote at some elections. Connecticut has the distin- gulshed(D honor of holding to the old way, the only State in New England. There are fifteen States where women are allowed to vote for school officers. Where it has been tried all testify that it has worked admira- ply. There can be no risk in it, gentlemen, it is perfectly safe matter
 Judge Sheldon was followed by Mrs. Emily O. Collins, of the Equal Rights Debating club of Hartford. Mrs. Collins argument was principally in favor of the bill exempt ing from taxation all unmarried women. Others who made stirring addresses to the committee were Judge Slade of Bridgeport,
 J1v- nor, 1o1-o of Var.T the Hon. John Hooker of Hai ford, Mrs. Hattie Howard of Hal oford, Mrs. Burr of Hartford and Mrs. Testhee. The addresses were all remarkably we'll delivered, the Ian guage of some being very elegant and elo- quent. There was no one who dar; face the sea of ladies' faces and say they were op- posed to woman suffrage and the matter goes to the committee without dissenting voice.
 There was an important hearing before the committee on constitutional amendments this afternoon regarding the election of State officers by plurality vote. There were sever al parties heard in favor and no one appear ed in opposition.
 The committee on finance set the afternoon through in listening to the discussion on the bill concerning the tax commission. The meeting was held in the Senate chamber and began at o'clock. The first taken Hp was the bill concerning the appointment of a tax commissioner. - Many members of the commission were present to support their bill. There were only few gentlemen who opposed, among them being the State treas urer- It was brought out in the hearing by the members of the commission that there is not now any officer charged with the duties named in the bill and that there will be no actual increased expenditure for the tax commissioners salary. Added revenue by his action will more than make good his sal arv SiTooOT1 E Ral6 wi and MOrP,S F Tv1ar from New Haven, ex-Senator Glover, Senator Bates, Charles H. Clark of Hartford, Nathan ieI Wheeler and Isaac W. Brooks appeared in favor.
 LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
 The new liquor bill of County Commission CT Burleigh, of New Haven, will be heard by the legislative committee on temperance to- morrow (Thursday). The bill provides that jail penalty shall be affixed to the f-st con- viction for selling liquor without license. At present only money penalty is provided by the statute for the fist offense. The an- nual meeting of the county commissioners of the State considered this question, and ap pointed Commissioner Burleigh committee to draft bill. The licensed liquor dealers are in favor of the bill, as it protects them, and so are temperance people.
 Among the committee hearings to-morrow will be: Finanee-Bill taxing grants of cor porate ftanchises and bill imposing 8 fran chise tax on cel cain col oorations. Humane institutions-Bill concerning commitment of children to the orphan asylums in New Ha- ven. Ineorporations-BiIl giving municipal ities control over elect1ic light companies. Railroads-Resolution extending time for completing the Hartford and Harlem. State prison-Bill prescribing punishment of in- corIigible criminals.
 A very interesting hearing will take place before the committee on finance to morrow (Thursday) )afternoon on the bill taxing grants of corporate franchises; also bill imposing franchise tax on certain corporations. The sentiment of the many who will probably oppose the bill is that there ought to be no discrimination. The Hon. Samuel Simpson of Wallingford, of the firm of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co.,, will have a statement made the committee through 8 communication. It W Ill be presented by Representative Ken drick.
 Below will be found summary of the business transacted in the House and the Senate: